von rundstedt

[Laresvog]

German field marshal in World War II who directed the conquest of Poland and led the Ardennes counteroffensive (1875-1953)

[GrompelFem]

Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (12 December 1875 – 24 February 1953) was a German field marshal in the Heer (Army) of Nazi Germany during World War II. Born into a Prussian family with a long military tradition, Rundstedt entered the Prussian Army in 1892. During World War I, he served mainly as a staff officer. In the inter-war years, he continued his military career, reaching the rank of Colonel General (Generaloberst) before retiring in 1938.
He was recalled at the beginning of World War II as commander of Army Group South in the invasion of Poland. He commanded Army Group A during the Battle of France, and requested the Halt Order during the Battle of Dunkirk. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in 1940. In the invasion of the Soviet Union, he commanded Army Group South, responsible for the largest encirclement in history, the Battle of Kiev. He was relieved of command in December 1941 after authorizing the withdrawal from Rostov but was recalled in 1942 and appointed Commander-in-Chief in the West.
He was dismissed after the German defeat in Normandy in July 1944 but was again recalled as Commander-in-Chief in the West in September, holding this post until his final dismissal by Adolf Hitler in March 1945. Though aware of the various plots to depose Hitler, Rundstedt neither supported nor reported them. After the war, he was charged with war crimes, but did not face trial due to his age and poor health. He was released in 1949, and died in 1953.

[Renato]

Field Marshal Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt was a German field marshal during World War II. He was one of the highest-ranking German military officers during the war, and was a key figure in the development of the German militarys blitzkrieg tactics. He served in several major campaigns during the war, including the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France, and the Eastern Front. Post-war, he was tried and convicted of war crimes, but was released due to ill health and died in 1953.